DJJ Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Aquaponic Garden

On May 20, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) was joined by other state leaders to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a new Aquaponic Garden at the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Dalton, Georgia. A first of its kind at a DJJ facility, the Aquaponic Garden is a self-sufficient farming system where the presence of marine life will help grow vegetables through a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. Once fully operational, the DJJ will integrate the maintenance of the garden into the facility’s school curriculum to educate youth on fish and plant life development. Construction of the garden was provided through a grant from the Georgia Shape Program and a donation from the Christian Heritage School in Dalton. Special guest in attendance included Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and State Senator Chuck Payne.